Question 1

Why are many biologists skeptical about the concept of group selection?

Accepted Answer

Classic evolutionary theory proposes that the processes of natural selection operate only at the individual, not the group level, which means that group selection is not a key factor in determining the course of evolution.

Question 2

Kin selection occurs __________.

Accepted Answer

Kin selection is a mechanism of evolutionary strategy that favors the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even at a cost to the organism's own survival and reproduction. This concept is based on the genetic relatedness of individuals and is not dependent on the individual's gender or the culture in which they live. Therefore, it occurs equally often in the two genders and in the various cultures studied, as it is driven by genetic relatedness rather than cultural or gender-specific factors.

Question 3

A giant tornado is bearing down on Dorothy's farmhouse. She only has time to help one other resident. Based on research regarding kin selection, whom will Dorothy take with her to the storm cellar?

Accepted Answer

Kin selection theory suggests that individuals are more likely to help relatives because the shared genes increase the likelihood of those genes being passed on to the next generation. Dorothy's sister, Glenda, is her closest relative in this scenario, and therefore the most likely person that she would choose to help.

Question 4

Why would gratitude evolve in a social group?

Accepted Answer

Gratitude is an emotion that arises when someone perceives that they have received a benefit from another person. This emotion likely evolved in social groups because it promotes reciprocity, a behavior in which people feel motivated to help those who have helped them in the past. This can increase the likelihood of group members receiving help when they need it, thereby increasing their survival and reproductive success. Additionally, expressing gratitude may strengthen social bonds and promote positive relationships within social groups.

Question 5

The idea that natural selection favors behaviors that help a genetic relative is known as ___________.

Accepted Answer

The concept of natural selection favoring behaviors that benefit genetic relatives is known as kin selection. Option A, kin selection, best describes this phenomenon. Option B, familial selection, is not a commonly used term in evolutionary biology. Option C, kinship bias, does not describe the concept of natural selection's influence on behavior. Option D, familial reciprocity, is another concept but does not describe kin selection.

Question 6

Researchers (Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama, 1994) found that when participants imagined a house fire, they were more likely to help some people than other people. Based on these researchers' findings, it seems that in life-and-death situations, __________.

Accepted Answer

The research by Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994) suggests that in life-and-death situations, individuals are more inclined to help biological relatives over nonrelatives, highlighting the influence of evolutionary factors on altruistic behavior.

Question 7

One consequence of living by the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," is that if you help those in need, they might return the favor someday. This idea is best represented by ___________.

Accepted Answer

The norm of reciprocity refers to the social expectation that people will respond favorably to each other in a mutual exchange of benefits or services. This means that if you help someone, they might feel obligated to help you in return. This concept is in line with the idea of the Golden Rule, as helping others is one way to treat them the way you would like to be treated.

Question 8

According to evolutionary psychologists, why would Doris be more likely to save her children than her parents in a life-threatening emergency? Doris's children __________.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists suggest that individuals are more likely to save those who can pass on their genes. Doris's children represent her direct genetic lineage, making them more likely to pass on her genes than her parents.

Question 9

When considering altruistic behaviors, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that there is no consistent gender difference in altruistic behaviors. It varies based on individual differences and context. Therefore, men and women can be considered equally altruistic.

Question 10

According to the evolutionary psychology notion of kin selection, Bob is most likely to help his __________.

Accepted Answer

Kin selection posits that organisms are more likely to help their genetic relatives, as they share more genes in common. Therefore, Bob is most likely to help his brother Ralph, as they share more genetic material than he does with his cousin, step-sister, or friend.

Question 11

Although evidence from studies presented in the chapter suggests that people are more likely to help family than strangers or friends in some situations, they also note that people are equally likely to help a friend or family member under which of the following circumstances?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although evidence from studies presented in the...

Question 12

Helga stops and helps Bjorn change a flat tire along the road because she figures that one day she'll need help and someone will return the favor. This best illustrates the idea of __________.

Accepted Answer

Reciprocity refers to the idea of mutual exchange of benefits and obligations between individuals or groups. In this scenario, Helga helps Bjorn with the expectation that he may return the favor in the future.

Question 13

In a group setting, one member could take advantage of the help that he/she receives from the other group members, thereby exploiting the reciprocity norm to his/her advantage. Some researchers believe that, instead, __________ evolved.

Accepted Answer

Gratitude is a positive emotion that can motivate people to reciprocate help and kindness, even if it is not expected or required. Gratitude promotes prosocial behavior and strengthens social bonds, which can discourage exploitation and encourage cooperation in group settings. Diffusion of responsibility and bystander effect refer to situations where people are less likely to help or take responsibility in a group due to the presence of others, whereas volunteering involves offering help or service without the expectation of reciprocity.

Question 14

Kin selection appears to be a(n) __________ act.

Accepted Answer

Kin selection is an ingrained act because it is an innate behavior that has evolved over time in response to the need to protect and support genetically related individuals. It is not a conscious decision, but rather a natural inclination to prioritize the well-being of kin over non-kin. While kin selection may not serve a conscious purpose in the individual organism, it has a clear evolutionary purpose in promoting the survival and reproduction of genetically related organisms.

Question 15

Evolutionary psychology would have the most trouble explaining which of the following incidents?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology focuses on how behavior and cognition have evolved over time to adapt to the environment, including the social environment. However, the behavior described in option D cannot be easily explained by evolutionary psychology, as it goes against the notion of self-preservation that is assumed to be a universal human instinct. While altruism and self-sacrifice have been observed in many cultures throughout history, such behavior challenges the idea that humans are inherently and exclusively self-interested. Thus, evolutionary psychology may have trouble making predictions about or explaining such behavior.

Question 16

Some evolutionary psychologists argue that in our distant past, those who selfishly pursued their own individual interests would be less likely to survive to pass on their genes. This argument lies at the heart of __________ as a source of altruistic behavior.

Accepted Answer

The reciprocity norm suggests that individuals act altruistically with the expectation that such actions will be reciprocated in the future, enhancing their own survival and reproductive success. This concept aligns with the idea that those who cooperated and supported others, rather than acting purely selfishly, would have been more likely to survive and pass on their genes.

Question 17

When American and Japanese participants were studied on the likelihood they would engage in altruistic behavior, what was the final result?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that both American and Japanese participants have similar levels of altruistic behavior, indicating that cultural differences do not necessarily play a significant role in determining altruistic behavior.

Question 18

Based on evidence from studies presented in the chapter on evolutionary explanations of helping behavior, whom would you be the most likely to help if she had just spilled the contents of her purse?

Accepted Answer

According to the theories presented in the chapter, people are most likely to help those who are genetically related to them or those who can reciprocate the help in the future. However, in the situation of someone spilling the contents of their purse, there is no obvious genetic relatedness or potential for reciprocity. Therefore, it is likely that individuals would be equally likely to help anyone in this situation.

Question 19

The norm of reciprocity is defined as __________.

Accepted Answer

The norm of reciprocity refers to the social expectation that individuals will help those who have helped them in the past or will help them in the future. This can be seen as a form of social exchange, where individuals provide benefits or resources to others with the expectation of receiving similar benefits or resources in return. Choice B suggests that reciprocity is driven by a desire for personal gain such as notoriety, which is not the case for the norm of reciprocity. Choice C and D are related to broader beliefs about fairness and justice, which may play a role in reciprocity, but do not capture the specific social norm of reciprocal exchange.

Question 20

In explaining the process by which kin selection works to encourage altruism, evolutionary psychologists would argue that __________.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychologists argue that over time, the genes of individuals who display altruistic behavior towards kin (due to shared genetic material) will be more likely to survive and pass on. This is known as kin selection. It is not a conscious decision-making process, but rather a product of natural selection over generations. Option A and D are incorrect as they suggest a conscious decision-making process and the use of the "biological importance" rule only in life-and-death situations, which is not necessarily the case. Option B is also incorrect as it suggests that norms have replaced biological processes, rather than being a product of biological processes themselves.

Quiz 11: Prosocial Behavior: Why Do People Help